Preparing for an appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your family or primary doctor. If your doctor suspects you may have a brain tumor, such as a meningioma, you may be referred to specialists who treat brain disorders (neurologist and neurosurgeon).

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, you're taking.
• Take a family member or friend along, if possible. Sometimes it can be difficult to absorb all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something you missed.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Preparing a list of questions will help you make the most of your time with your doctor. For a meningioma, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• Is my meningioma cancerous?
• How large is my meningioma?
• Is my meningioma growing? How quickly?
• What treatments do you recommend?
• Do I need treatment now, or is it better to take a wait-and-see approach?
• What are the potential complications of each treatment?
• Are there long-term complications I should know about?
• Should I seek a second opinion? Can you recommend another doctor or hospital that has experience in treating meningiomas?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
• Do I need to make a decision about treatment right away? How long can I wait?

Don't hesitate to ask any other questions you have as well.